Wheels

[intriguess]

Maddie was in general an outgoing friendly person, she also had been in a serious automobile accident and besides being confined to a wheelchair and undergoing extensive physical therapy she had just finished the reconstructive surgery. It was odd, when she looked in the mirror a stranger literally looked back. The glass had shattered and cut her face up pretty bad and even her own mother had not recognized her.

Maddie tried not to think about her mother's reaction, she used to pester her about getting married, making her a grandmother, and etc. Now her mother looked right through her and joked about Maddie's brother needing to get hitched. So Maddie "Wheels" McCoy tried not to think about what she had lost and focused instead on what she gained. An appreciation for hospitals, and a new lease on life.

She just finished the reconstructive surgery last week and the swelling had finally gone down and she could finally look at herself in the mirror, which she avoided even more now. It was days like this that being called "Wheels" cut into her especially when she heard her coworkers trying to set her up with some guy, but neglecting to tell him why she was called wheels. She decided not to enter the break room and turned her chair around and headed back to her office.

 

[txnstud]

John was glad to see that Maddie was out of the hospital and at least starting to work again. The two of them had been friends for many years and it almost killed him to think that he had almost lost her.
He was about to take his lunch break when he saw her leaving the break room. "Whats amatter Maddie? Everything ok?" He knew something was up and it killed him to see her hurting like this. He would do anything to see her happy.

 

[intriguess]

Maddie "Wheels" McCoy

She faked a bright smile, John had been her friend for a long time, there was a time when she would have considered dating him. Now though she felt lucky if she wanted to touch herself at night. She tried not to think of her ex boyfriend, that had been a crueler blow than the rest combined. Then again she was glad to know what type of guy he was before she gotten too deeply involved. She'd been driving to a romantic rendez vous, it was supposed to be the first time they would have.

Maddie cut through the crap, before she had plenty of dating opportunities. Now she was lucky to be invited out to go dancing with her friends. "The usual, little things, I painted my nails this morning." She showed him the chrome teal colored nails. "I wanted to paint my toes, but," she paused, "I can't reach." She plastered on a smile, and recalled her therapists favorite saying, fake it until you make it.

 

[txnstud]

John could tell that she was really having a bad day today. "Well if you ever need help painting the toes just ask. I cant say I've had much experience but it shouldnt be that hard to get right." He smiled and heard his stomach growling. "You know i was just going to go to the breakroom for luch but i think I'm in the mood for some real food. I think I'll go to the Italian place down the street. Wanna join me? I would hate to eat alone" Truth is he didnt mind eatting alone. He just didnt want her to.

 

[intriguess]

Maddie "Wheels" McCoy

"I love pasta," she sighed, "hot thick sauce lovingly layered over fine strands of flexible noodles." She opted to say yes, she knew he was lying, he ate alone all the time. Then again she noticed he'd been alone a lot lately, then again so had she, usually she did eat lunch in break room. Socializing just seemed more strained since her facial reconstuction. Besides that not every restaurant was handicap friendly and a lot of people treated her like she was 'special.'

Most days Maddie prayed to be treated like anyone else, to get past the pity stage and on with a realistic life. "Your treat?" she teased as they headed to the elevators.

 

[txnstud]

"Of course it's my treat. Its not everyday I get to eat lunch with someone as special as you" He gave her a sincere smile. They got to the bottom floor and started down the street towards the resteraunt. "You know we really havent had the chance to hang out much anymore. I miss that"

 

[intriguess]

Maddie avoided cringing at the word special, from John it seemed more like a compliment and less like an insult. It was a short roll to the restaurant, not that Maddie minded, she had decent upper body strength before and now it only helped further tone her arms. She missed hanging out with him too but she had learned early that it was a lot less painful to let her old friends come to her. Her best friend had been unable to look at her when she was in hospital and even afterwards it had been different.

"I don't feel like I fit in with my old friends too much lately. After all they knew me before and some of them treat me differently than new people. They tend to focus on what I've lost, and I can't live that way."

Luckily she had been to the restaurant before and they treated her just like any other customer and subtley removed the extra chair from the table so she could sit.

"So what's been going on with you?" she sometimes felt like she missed out on a good chunk of life while she was in recovery.

 

[txnstud]

John didnt really understand how people could focus on what she had lost. the night of the accident he had thought he lost her completely. As far as he was concerned it was a miracle she lived and he was very thankful for it.
"Not a whole lot really. Work has been keeping me pretty busy. That and i play on a men's basketball league on the weekends just to help keep me active. What about you?

 

[intriguess]

Maddie

She liked that he talked about his physical activities, most felt guilty about mentioning anything that dealt with sports. As if just because she couldn't play herself she no longer enjoyed talking about sports. "I've become more involved with my artwork. Got to find something to fill the empty time with now that my physical therapy is winding down."

 

[txnstud]

Thats nice. What kinda artwork are you in to? Painting, drawing, sculpting? I would like to see it sometime." He could see that she was starting to cheer up and it started to put a smile on his face. He just loved seeing her happy. He always has and probably always will. Just then the food was brought to the table.

 

[intriguess]

"Well I don't have much luck throwing on a wheel, and sculpting is a lot tougher now that I'm restricted." She paused took a drink and inhaled the scent of her food, "I always prefered drawing and painting anyway. My painting is mainly decorative and my sketches are more fun." She took a bite, it was fabulous. Maddie almost wished she didn't have to go back to work, to listen to what everyone had planned for the evening and weekend.